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More than half the revenue generated from Big Ten/NCAA distributions

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the first time, Purdue’s athletic department surpassed the $100 million mark in revenue.

That figure comes from the 2017-18 school year, the latest financial data available. The information was provided to the Journal & Courier through an open records request.

During the 2016-17 school year, 31 schools generated more than $100 million in revenue, according to the database created and maintained by USA Today. Once all the information is gathered for 2017-18, that number will grow.

Here are 10 items of interest from the athletic department’s latest financial report:

• The school reported an excess of $7.9 million as opposed to a loss of $868,000 in 2016-17.

• More than 53 percent of the athletic department’s revenue came from the Big Ten Conference, including television rights, NCAA distributions and radio rights. Contributions of $19.3 million produced the second-most revenue.

• The athletic department generated more than $11 million in ticket sales, including $7 million in football – the most since 2013. That same year, Purdue had more than $14 million in overall ticket sales.

• For the fourth straight year, women’s basketball generated less than $300,000 in ticket sales. The program saw a slight increase in ticket revenue after six consecutive years of decline.

• Ticket revenue from volleyball continues to rise. The program generated $212,437 in 2017, the fourth straight season of seeing an increase. Ticket sales have jumped from $138,880 in 2008 to the current mark.

• While revenue increased – from $84 million in 2016-17 to $103 million in 2017-18 – so did expenses. Purdue reported $95 million in expenses, an uptick of $10 million compared to the year before.

• Football reported a $1.4 million deficit but $1.7 million in severance payments to former coach Darrell Hazell prevented the program from showing a profit. The school’s financial obligation to Hazell ended in December 2018. That will appear on next year’s financial report.

• Scholarships cost the John Purdue Club $11.2 million, an increase of $300,000 compared to the previous year. The tuition freeze put in place by Mitch Daniels and the Board of Trustees continues to keep this number from skyrocketing.

• Salaries, benefits and bonuses paid to the football program’s support staff jumped from $595,570 in 2016-17 to $2.1 million in 2017-18.

• Debt service for the athletic department was $14.6 million, which includes the Football Performance Complex.